Chapter Sixty-Four: The Orchid Demon Sect and the Shadowed Treasure Vault

“Hmm, wasn’t there someone just now who was adamant about not letting us enter the treasury? Why is it that as soon as his beloved woman is teased by others, he hastily turns around and urges us to go in?” Yanxue Su was always the sort to enjoy a spectacle, and upon hearing this, she immediately sided with her best friend, mocking that stubborn, soft-hearted fool whose words belied his true feelings. She had seen through these ill-fated lovers; clearly, they cared deeply for each other but insisted on feigning indifference, making even their bystanders feel a pang of sorrow. In her eyes, there was no place for worldly prejudice or opposition—if two people loved each other, they should overcome everything to be together, lest they regret it for a lifetime! Hmph, she was determined to meddle in this matter and bring them together, and surely her best friend felt the same!

“You two little girls are awfully talkative today. Aren’t you tired? Go rest for a while; we have serious business to attend to!” Yu Shang quickly intervened, stopping the two chatterboxes before they could further trouble the couple. It was about time to have a proper conversation with Brother Leng. After all, a young woman had given so much for him; he couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened. Normally, he wouldn’t meddle in others’ affairs, but both of these people had helped him before, so now it was his turn to help them.

“Yes, entering the treasury is the most important thing right now. Save your words for later,” Yu Xiaoran chimed in. How could he not know what his woman was thinking? But now was not the time for such discussion; they needed to deal with the matter at hand.

“Very well, I don’t wish to embarrass you. Let me summon the entrance,” Xun Mishuang said, stepping forward and murmuring words under her breath, though none could make out what she was saying. Soon, a faint light appeared in midair; she waved her hands, channeling her true energy into the glow. The light grew larger and, after a blinding flash, a strange door appeared before them, likely the legendary entrance to the treasury.

The door was entirely black, etched with mysterious, indecipherable patterns, and from time to time, it emanated a chilling aura that made everyone feel a cold rush up their spine. It seemed as though a monstrous beast lurked behind the door, eager to break through and devour them. The more they stared at the door, the heavier their hearts became. They were puzzled: why would a righteous place like Smoke Orchid Academy use such a sinister door as the treasury’s entrance? The door seemed out of place in the mortal realm, and its aura was reminiscent of the demon clan.

Suddenly, a beautiful white orchid bloomed in the crack of the door. It had eight petals, each seeming independent, not born for the stamen but for its own existence. Within the orchid lingered traces of cultivators’ true energy—clearly, someone had deliberately planted it here to restrain the demonic nature of the door. Yet, this seemingly ordinary orchid—could it really suppress the deeply resentful demon door? It was nearly withered, about to return to the earth, but Yu Shang felt that even without the nourishment of true energy, even if its petals fell, it was still a rare treasure. Otherwise, how could it coexist with the demon door? If it were so fragile, it would have long since turned to dust; even Yu Shang himself dared not touch the door lightly.

As Yu Shang stared dazedly at the strange door, he suddenly thought of something and turned to ask, “Yuanyuan, do you sense anything unusual?” How foolish—wasn’t there a demon clan member right beside him? Perhaps she wasn’t yet fully aware of her heritage, but that innate connection could not be erased. With such sensitivity, she might detect what others could not.

“Did Brother Yu also notice something amiss?” Meng Youyuan responded, her tone tinged with approval. “There is indeed a trace of demonic aura on this door. It seems it once belonged to the demon clan. Though I don’t know where it grew or what it evolved from, I am certain it was once possessed by a demon king!” Everyone noticed that Meng Youyuan’s gaze upon the door was different—hot, yearning, almost as if she wanted to claim it.

“How can you be so sure? It’s not like you saw it yourself!” Yin Boxuan sidled up to her, feigning confusion as he asked. This foolish, lovesick man’s intentions were so obvious, it was a wonder if anyone hadn’t noticed. But everyone tactfully pretended not to, waiting for Meng Youyuan’s reply, while Xun Mishuang watched them with a knowing smile.

“Because I just infused a strand of intent into the door, and it clearly recognized us as kin, showing no fierce resistance. Yet the regal aura it unconsciously exudes has captivated me—don’t they say objects resemble their owners? Its former master must have been a formidable figure, but now, it seems he has fallen or passed on; otherwise, how could he bear to abandon such a treasure?” Meng Youyuan spoke with some pity for the unknown king—falling from greatness must be unbearable.

“This treasury truly lives up to its reputation. Even the entrance is so mysterious—who knows what wonders lie inside!” Yanxue Su said eagerly. She could almost see the miraculous scroll that drove all the clans mad with desire, and imagine the traitor groveling beneath their feet. It was exhilarating; with the scroll and Brother Yu’s strength, that villain would surely meet a miserable end, and she would watch his downfall with wide eyes.

“All right, let’s not waste any more time. I fear the demonic aura of the door might attract the academy elders’ attention. Let’s hurry and go in!” With that, Xun Mishuang reached out to push open the door.

“Wait!” Leng Huaiyi called out, quickly stepping forward to grab her hand and continued helplessly, “If you don’t want to die the moment you step inside, you must infuse a strand of true energy into the orchid. It will protect you, at least for a while.”

“I knew you wouldn’t abandon us, no matter how cold you act. As a reward, I’ll generously release you from the binding spell, but you wouldn’t leave us to go off alone, would you?” Xun Mishuang placed her other hand on Leng Huaiyi’s shoulder, sliding it down to his chest before pressing her palm there. With a rush of heat within Leng Huaiyi, the seal binding him was lifted. Freed, he did not hurry to leave; instead, he tightly grasped Xun Mishuang’s hand, as if to say wherever she went, he would follow.

Impatient, Yanxue Su wasted no more time on decorum, quickly channeling true energy into the white orchid, then turned to the others, her gaze urging them to hurry. Everyone smiled knowingly and followed suit, and whether it was mere wishful thinking or something more, they all felt the orchid bloom more vibrantly after absorbing their true energy, while the demonic aura of the door gradually faded.

Seeing this, Leng Huaiyi sighed and pushed open the door. Darkness swept over them in an instant, and when it passed, everyone had vanished—the treasury was no welcoming place. Such powerful force could simultaneously abduct cultivators of considerable skill, and without a sound of resistance, which was astonishing. They hadn’t even set foot inside and were already at its mercy; who could say what dangers awaited in its depths?

“Are we inside the treasury now? Why is it so pitch black here, you can’t see a thing!” came a voice from the darkness—upon listening closely, it was Lan Bingxian’s question. Yet this place was so strange; even their eyes, capable of piercing through anything, could see nothing. What were they to do? Were they to fumble around blindly, like the sightless? At this rate, they would never find the scroll.

“Everyone, don’t panic. Stay where you are. Only the special candles within the treasury can shed light here. If I recall correctly, the candles should be nearby, but they cannot be lit with ordinary flame. Let me think of a way,” Leng Huaiyi said calmly—not because he was cold, but because he knew that panic would do no good. Better to calmly find a solution, or else they would be trapped in this ghostly, lightless place forever.

“Not ordinary flame? I know what to do. But you all should shield yourselves with true energy—I don’t want to accidentally hurt anyone in this pitch-black place!” Lan Wu shouted, suddenly inspired. She was not to be underestimated, and her composure in crisis was admirable.

“Lan’er, be careful yourself!” Xiao Yin, beside her, did not try to stop her, evidently confident in his woman.

“Don’t worry!” As soon as she spoke, Lan Wu summoned her whip and softly chanted an incantation. A faint light infused into the whip, and in an instant, countless tiny flames appeared along its length, gradually gathering at the tip to form a small fireball. Yu Shang recognized it at once as the fire whip Lan Wu had used against them before—clever girl, to come up with this. Suddenly, Lan Wu swung the whip, sweeping it to either side, and in a flash, both sides’ candles ignited in unison. The once dim treasury was now bright.

“Finally, we have light! That pitch darkness was terrifying,” Meng Youyuan said, clutching her chest in relief. “But Lan Wu, you’re amazing, to think of such a clever method to bring light back to this place!”